The Temporary Renaming of a Popular Jasper Campground

Situated in the eastern end of Jasper National Park in Alberta, a popular, primitive campground 30 minutes from Jasper townsite offers 140 secluded sites with basic services like running water and flush toilets. Operational from June to September each year, this campground is set among the peaks of the Canadian Rockies and enjoys a stunning alpine setting.
But its previous name—Pocahontas Campground—faced increasing scrutiny over the last few years. Since 2020, Parks Canada has been collaborating with the Advisory Group of the Jasper Indigenous Forum, which is made up of over 25 First Nations and Métis groups with ties to the land that became Jasper National Park, to rename Pocahontas Campground.
“It is important for all visitors to Jasper National Park to understand that many of the place and site names within the park were not chosen by the Indigenous people who have called these places home for millennia,” reads a news release from Parks Canada.
Nature near Jasper. Credit: Alison Karlene Hodgins
In 1908, coal was found in Alberta, and one mine was named “Pocahontas.” The name, which was used for the campground, does not accurately reflect the land’s history and its people.
The coal mine operated until 1921. It was named after the extremely prosperous coal mining community of Pocahontas in Virginia, USA, in hopes that the Canadian counterpart would be equally as promising. The last resident of Alberta’s Pocahontas left in 1937, making it a ghost town.
Pocahontas was a Native American woman who lived in the 17th century. Belonging to the Powhatan people, she’s remembered as a peacemaker between Native Americans and the early English settlers in Jamestown, Virginia. Because Pocahontas has sometimes been used in racially insensitive contexts that both disrespect and misrepresent Native American cultures, the names of some of Jasper National Park’s sites have become out of touch.
Following in-depth consultations with the Advisory Group, Parks Canada temporarily renamed Pocahontas Campground and Pocahontas Cabins to “Miette.” Both parties agreed that the name Miette is aligned with the existing names of park sites, since Miette Campground is situated on Miette Road, which is also home to the Miette Hot Springs. This name change is reflected in all guest bookings until the permanent name of the campground is determined.
“The interim renaming of Miette will allow the time needed to continue discussions to ensure community members of all ages see their culture and language reflected back on these lands of enduring significance,” said Alan Fehr, field unit superintendent of Jasper National Park.